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Stumble It!Jason Williams relocated to Lawrence after being attacked and hit in the head with a baseball bat. Williams is just one of many people who have been attacked for being homeless or appearing to be homeless. Because of the beating, Williams said he cannot find work and is doomed to a life on the street.
"Now I'm an insurance risk. I can't get a job nowhere. No one will hire me," Williams said.
Of course living on the streets has its risks. But right now, Williams' main problem is getting money to pay for his medication. Yet, the homeless man has another goal while he's in Lawrence. He said he wants to be a voice for the homeless.
"Quit picking on us. We're not all out here by choice. Some people put us out here. And if you see my skull, you'll know what I'm talking about," Williams said.
Williams asks that everyone donate to the homeless when they see them. Another way to help is to volunteer to be a part of the Community Cooperation Committee, which works to find solutions to the growing homeless problem in Lawrence.
David Williamson is also homeless. He said that it can be rough in Lawrence, but life could be worse.
"As far as interpersonal relationships and the way the community as a whole treats us, there's a lot worse places to be. Check out East Gate in Topeka. Check out the bottoms in Kansas City. If I tried to spend a week in the bottoms I wouldn't last a week," Williamson said.
Lawrence Police Department Sergeant Dan Ward said there have been incidents in Lawrence where a homeless person has been beaten, but it has been at the hands of another homeless person.
